Index



(No Mo dL) I FORD.

INDEX.

No. 484,151. Patented Oct. 11. 1892.-

Fig. 1.

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UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHEW S. FORD, OF BLACKBURN, LOUISIANA.

INDEX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,151, dated October 11, 1892'.

Application filed May 11, 1892. Serial No. 482,619. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVIATTHEW S. FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blackburn, in the parish of Claiborne and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Index, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in means for conveniently keeping an index; and it consists of the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof, as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of this invention is to provide a device of the character set forth, adapted to be preferably monntedin position in connec-' tion with a desk or table for convenient inspection to ascertain names and residences, and wherein the parts are of simple and effective construction and operation, strong and durable, easily and readily operated, and

comparatively inexpensive in manufacture.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the improved indexing device appliedinconnectiouwithatableordesk. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the lineman, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line y 'y, Fig. 1. Fig. at is a detailed perspective View showing the device arranged independent of desk or table and adapted to be used in a portable manner.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts'in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a suitable desk or table, which is suitably recessed or cut away, as at 2, and provided with bearings or cars 3, in which are received the journals 4 of a drum 5. One of the said journals& of the drum 5 is provided with a toothed head or ratchet-wheel 6, adapted to be engaged by a spring pawl or click 7, secured to an adjacent portion of the desk or table, and whereby the backward movement or retrograde motion of the drum or cylinder 5 is prevented- The said head 6 is constructed in such manner that it may be readily engaged to revolve the upright or drum 5, so as to bring the names or addresses or other matter contained thereon within the vision of the operator. This said drum 5 is preferably made of considerable length and is adapted to receive names or addresses or paging indices, which are arranged in columns either alphabeticallyorconsecutivelythereon. The drum is covered by a curved cap 8. which is hinged, as at 9, to an adjacent portion of the desk or table, or a suitable supportat this 7 device, whereby the cylinder 5 may be readily manipulated by the left hand, so as to leave thevright hand free to use a pen or pencil. This will provide for a rapid means of addressing, and especially in sending newspapers or other periodicals, and the columns of the cylinder 5 in this form of the device may be readily arranged to contain the names and addresses of all persons who are subscribers to the paper or periodical at one town or villageorother place, or, in other words, they embody the addresses, together with the names, of a certain number of subscribers at a certain location. The device is also especially applicable for the use of book-keepers and for retaining the names and number of page of ledger-accounts in book-keeping. In posting accounts from the journal into the ledger it is customary for the book-keeper to write the number of the page of the ledger to which the account is to be posted immediately preceding each journal-entry and then to turn to the page of the ledger indicated by the journal and there enter the amount of the journal-entry, checking off each entry as it is posted. In order to obtain the ledger paging of each journal-entry, it is necessary to use both hands in opening the ledger and turning to the index-letter and scan, perhaps, a page or more of names in order to find the one sought for. It is the purpose of this invention to so arrange the names of the ledger-accounts and their pages that it will be unnecessary to take the hand containing the pen away from the journal-entry, in order that as soon as the eye catches the name of the account and its page the writing-hand will be in place to record it in the journal, in this IOO manner saving a great deal of time and inconvenlence.

The form of the device shown in Fig. 4 is especially adapted for indexing in connection with the ledgers as just described, and is portable, in order that the same may be moved from one position to another.

It is obviously apparent that the device may be used for any purpose found applicable, and the convenience and utility arising from the use of the same will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and need not be further enlarged upon herein.

The drum or cylinder 5 is preferably made very long, especially when applied to a desk, and the same is constructed of suitable material and in a suitable manner; but for all intents and purposes it is preferred that the drum shall be constructed as a drum and of some light metal.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In an indexing device, the combination of a drum adapted to have names and addresses arranged in columns thereon, a head connected to said drum for operating the same, provided with ratchet-teeth, a spring pawl or click engaging said head, and a cap or cover hingedly mounted over said drum, substantially as described.

2. In an indexing device, the combination, with a desk or table having a recessor opening therein and bearings or ears, of a drum rotatably mounted in said recess or opening, an operating-head secured to said drum and provided With ratchet-teetl1,a spring pawl or click secured to an adjacent portion of the table or desk and engaging the said ratchetteeth of the head, and a cap or cover hinged to said desk or table and adapted to fit over and cover the said drum,the said cap or cover being provided with a series of slots or openings and a flange for raising and lowering the same, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affiXed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

, MATTHEW S. FORD.

Witnesses:

O. E. BARROW, B. WV. FORTNER. 

